There’s no question in my mind that Timbuk2 makes some of the best messenger bags, backpacks, tote bags and laptop bags around. Plus they are an awesome independent, local San Francisco company that’s been around 18 years, with a great retail store in Hayes Valley. Over the years I’ve owned several Timbuk2 bags and they’ve all been great.
Almost exactly a year ago I wrote about their Blogger Bag, a really great vertical laptop bag that for the most part has been my primary bag for the last year. Well that has all changed. They just came out with their new Hacker bag which I have ordered from them.
This is quite possibly the ultimate vertical laptop bag, well for me at least. Plus, hackers are cooler than bloggers any day, right? The Hacker bag takes the Blogger bag to the next level, adding a waterproof liner and bottom, a molded back panel, enclosed padded, corduroy-lined laptop compartment and it also coverts into a backpack with straps that are normally hidden in the back, which are great for going on long hauls. In general, I prefer vertical laptop bags, since they take up less space, which is important when you’re at crowed art or tech events.
While we’re at it, I might as well do the whole “what’s in your bag?” thing. The Hacker bag easily fits my 15” Apple MacBook Pro, AC adapter, my Canon 5D DSLR camera with EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS lens attached (plus lens hood), Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 L prime lens, my CF cards & CF and SD card readers, batteries, Canon PowerShot TX-1 HD camera, Verizon V740 EVDO Rev A ExpressCard, pens, mini LED flashlight, business cards and Laughing Squid stickers, with plenty of room to spare.
Oh and just to make a cool company even cooler, check out the awesome rocket popsicle mailer that the Hacker bag shipped in when I purchased it from Timbuk2.
UPDATE: Some of you have been asking if I can shoot additional photos of the bag to help you determine if you should buy it or not. This is really something that Timbuk2 should be doing. I just wrote about how much I liked it, but I really don’t have the time or resources to setup extensive products shots of the bag. I would suggest that you contact Timbuk2 and ask them to add more photos of the bag.
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That’s an interesting solution and your photo shows it can fit a SLR and lenses — but how does it fair with a longer-range lens (70-200VR f/2.8 with camera attached).
With an official press-pass a
Honestly, a promo for a Timbuktu bag? Does it come with a free payperpost.com decal?
Honestly, an obnoxious comment? Does it come with a “I have too much free time” decal?
Andy, you might have a hard time fitting that large lens as well, maybe if it were the only thing. That one is just way too big for me to carry around, which is why I sold mine a couple of weeks ago.
I’ve got the “blogger” bag and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever owned. I carry just about all the stuff you’re toting around (albeit a Canon S3 IS rather than an SLR… Soon… Soon) and it fits it all and more when it needs to without breaking my shoulder.
I have to remember to thank Chris Messina next time I see him for turning me on to them.
Scott, I got you beat (I am amazed myself)… Check it: http://www.tumi.com/products/index.cfm?modelid=16812 I just got mine in the mail today. It is everything it purports to be.
Not so fast Jeff, your Tumi bag appears to be a backback only. There are a ton of good options for backpacks, what I’ve been looking for is the ultimate vertical laptop bag. It just so happens that the Hacker Bag also can convert into a backpack.
Wow. Great post. Interesting bag.
Tomorrow I’ll order one myself, your post does wonder-marketing :).
Just hope they’ll ship the hacker bag to Romania in my life time :D.
PS: the comment form font is way too small, I can barely see what I’m typing.
I’m using Firefox 2.0.0.6 @ 1280×800.
They say it can also be “transformed” into a backpack, is it as nice as a backpack as it is in Messenger Bag Mode?
It’s kind of expensive (more if you include the shipping costs to Spain), but if you say it’s worth it, I’ll probably go with it.
(Specially thanks to the Euro vs. Dollar change rate :))
Alexandru, the comment font is the same size for me, what OS are you using?
Teo, I mention that it can be converted into a backpack and I think it works quite well as a backpack. Timbuk2 knows what they are doing when it comes to this stuff.
Thanks Scott. I think I’ll get it. I’ll let you know how it goes..
I’m using Windows Vista Ultimate. Here’s a photo of the actual screen. This may be the setting you see also but I think it’s way to small.
Hope the image shows.
The photo : http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1167/1061890618_426a24d89c_o_d.png
I hope you know that the vast majority of Timbuk2 bags are now made in *gasp* China ! :( So even Timbuk2 has succumbed. Are these new bags SF made or from over there?
Yes, exactly: Timbuk2 offshored almost all of their production years ago. If you want a messenger bag from a real SF company, I recommend Chrome. I’ve been riding with a Chrome “Metropolis” for a few years now: the thing is huge (and it’s not even their largest model), and indestructable. They’ve also got laptop bags and (more interesting to me) a “laptop insert”, to add padding to a messenger bag to carry a laptop.
I’ve been trying to find a picture of this thing in backpack-mode everywhere, to no avail. Any chance of uploading one or know where I might find one?
Also, I’m also seeing the small comment form font issue. I’m running FF on Ubuntu Fiesty. It’s definitely not fun trying to read it.
wow thanks for the recommendation! After I read your post last night, I immediately got one. Ive been looking for a laptop bag that can fit my MBP as well as my Nikon D70 plus my ipod etc etc etc…all the while looking cool doing it.
Thanks!
All Timbuk2 Hacker bags are imported. Only when you choose custom colors for your bag are they “sfmade”.
I’d link it, but sfmade.org seems to be down.
How much does all of this weigh? Does the bag have that “I am going to sever your arm at the shoulder” feeling when it’s full?
It does look promising. My two *sighs*: it’s only available in nylon (I like their waxed canvas) and the colour choices are a bit… scant.
the joke is on me it seems – was just about to post some sort of jaded “who cares” comment then realized I too could put my SLR + additional lens in such a bag without needing a bulky camera bag… It turns out I care after all, and will probably get one of my own. Great bag!!!
How well is the camera protected? Is it just floating around with other stuff? Is the black zipper case in the lower right a lens case?
I’ve been looking for a good compact solution for my MBP 15 plus a Canon 20D with a few lenses. I’ve tried one of the crumpler backpacks, but all it’s padding makes it bulky for the amount of cargo it can carry.
Hey Scott, how much padding is there in the bag for your SLR? The product shots on the Timbuk2 website are inconclusive to say the least.
Thanks!
I prefer Knomo bags. Very sturdy (leather), great design and they can at least hold a 17″ MBP
REI is selling the blogger bag for > $50 at their online outlet.
it seems like everyone who lives in the city has a black North Face fleece jacket and a Timbuk2 bag. read my timbuk2 post
Can we see a couple of shots of how this all fits in the bag?
Hi Scott. Impressive collection of gear – I’m eyeballing my Canon 10D with that longing feeling for an upgrade that I can’t justify. ;) Looks like a good bag though, and certainly one that would fit my similar collection of provisions.
I didn’t see any smartphones or PDAs, however. What’s your choice of mobile device and do you do any remote system administration for the Squid with it?
Here is the link to the actual page on the Timbuk2 site, explaining the Made in China issue here
“Here is the link to the actual page on the Timbuk2 site, explaining the Made in China issue here”
You mean, they explain that they’re maintaining only a token manufacturing presence in San Francisco, because without using labor from the world’s largest dictatorship, they can’t compete out in the land of mall rats?
Like I said, Chrome bags are actually made in San Francisco.
All this Camera tech talk–and all I can offer is that “Rocket” is a bona-fide “Bomb Pop” — A Cherry/7-UP/Blueberry original
Hey, you guys have a lot of questions, so I’ll try to answer some of them here:
Alexandru – I’ll look into the comment font size issue when I get back to town.
Joesph – Yes I agree, the Chrome bags are great. I’ve owned a couple of them as well.
Neil – The weight of course depends on how much you stuff into it, but to me the bag does a great job of weight distribution. If I’m really packing things in, I switch to backpack mode, which is more comfortable.
Ben & Kendrick – I’ve always just put my camera directly into my bag, so in my case, the camera is only protected by the bag itself. The black case in the photo is for the spare lens.
Cal – I could take a photo of everything in the bag, but I doubt it would really do much for you, since you would only see what at the top.
William – My choice of mobile device is the iPhone (no surprise for people reading this blog) and it goes in my pocket, not my bag. Until Apple adds a terminal application, the only remote admin stuff I can do are only things that are web-based.
“You mean, they explain that they’re maintaining only a token manufacturing presence in San Francisco, because without using labor from the world’s largest dictatorship, they can’t compete out in the land of mall rats?
Like I said, Chrome bags are actually made in San Francisco.”
Actually Joey, Timbuk2 makes bags in SF too. lots of them each and every day. many of the bags made for companies like REI and Levi’s are made in a factory in the Mission district of SF.
and yes TImbuk2 does make bags overseas. but the fact remains that they still operate a manufacturing and distribution facility as well as administration offices on US soil. these facilities employ over 100 hundred bay area individuals who all pay taxes and support their local community in many ways. operation of a US facility takes a lot. do you know what it takes? it sure sounds like you do….
I just got a Timbuk2 Hacker delivered today. It’s a nice bag but I didn’t know it had exposed zippers where the laptop compartment is. I was thinking that the laptop compartment was under the flap. I ride a bicycle to work everyday and I’m concerned about rain. In my opinion, no laptop bag should be made in such a way that electronics can get leaked on in the rain.
Is this a concern of yours? I had 100 dollars credit from them and waited a while to use it hoping something like this would come along. Had I known about the zippers, I would not have gotten it.
It’s a nice bag, though, I must admit. My concern is for my laptop staying dry. My Crumpler Crisp Suit does a nice job of that but I wanted a backpack option sometimes.
Hi Scott, as you mentioned in your Blogger bag post, it’s good to see more of a bag before dropping a lot of money on it. I love Timbuk2, but I already have a laptop bag so I need to know if this is as perfect as it looks before dropping $120 on a second bag. It would be awesome if you could post more pics of the Hacker bag. I’d like to see the back + straps, especially in backpack mode but also when not so I can see where the straps tuck in; closer semi-vertical views of the pockets; and a shot of the bottom would be nice. Is the waterproof liner just in the flap, or on the whole outside of the bag? Thanks!
Rachel, regarding shooting additional photos of the bag to help you determine if you should buy it or not, this is really something that Timbuk2 should be doing. I just wrote about how much I liked it, but I really don’t have the time or resources to setup extensive products shots of the bag. I would suggest that you contact Timbuk2 and ask them to add more photos of the bag.
I read this post and bought the bag. Really, this bag is seriously better than the Blogger. Timbuk2 really needs to add more info about it because it has some seriously ingenious features. The backpack straps tuck in wonderfully if you want a messenger. The backpack feature itself is great because I am a tiny person and I love the access of a messenger, but I look a little overwhelmed carrying it around. Now I can switch when I don’t need the access. The switching is a little more awkward than the bumbackpack, another contender, but the vertical profile is less overwhelming on my small frame.
Another great feature is that the computer compartment is more forgiving. The blogger’s is a little snugger and harder to get a larger computer in and out of. It also has a nice water bottle holder, organizer pockets, and plenty of room for a book and some folders. Also…it’s waterproof. This one’s a keeper.
I found you from your comment on Jeremiah ’s post. Excellent information. I find it helpful to see the gear other people in the industry are carrying to ensure I carry the correct gear for what I need to do.
Jeremiah mentions that his goal in carrying his gear is o be a ready-to-publish multi media platform. What would you say the goal of all the gear in your bag is?
Thomas, for me it’s the other way around, the goal of my bag is to carry all of my gear and the Hacker Bag does a pretty good job doing that.
so how much room do you have left with all that stuff in there? i’ll soon be a student again and i’m looking for a bag that can carry a macbook, dslr with maybe 2 lenses, a few notepads and a text book or two while also small enough to be OK in crowded places or the subway etc.
Rachel and Melissa,
We are indeed _sorely_ missing some product perspectives on the timbuk2 site. We had a photo shoot a few weeks ago and should be done compositing the images and have them up soon.
In the interim, I dug through the raw images and posted a few on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9592181@N03/sets/72157602292087082/
Hope that helps.
Scott- thanks for your review of this bag. We’re stoked that you like it and are always interested in consumer feedback (even when it’s not so flattering). There’s a few more Hacker-specific posts on getsatsisfaction too.
Thanks for the review on the Hacker. I am going back to grad school and was thinking this would be a perfect laptop/ book bag to take to class. I have always used a backpack for school but I like how this can either be strapped to your back or used as more of a messenger. Do you find it to be comfortable when you carry it “messenger style” (one strap over the shoulder) even though it is a vertical bag?
I like the fact that this bag is discrete. In a similar vein, camera backpacks from National Geographic and Lowepro also work really well.
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